Histoplasmosis is a chronic, non-contagious fungal infection caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. H. capsulatum is found globally and may infect both humans and animals. However, histoplasmosis is uncommon to rare in all but dogs and cats.
Can animals get histoplasmosis?
There's a fungus among us! According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year 500,000 people in the U.S. contract histoplasmosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection. Histoplasmosis also infects dogs and cats.
Can an indoor cat get histoplasmosis?
Cats are infected by inhaling, or less commonly ingesting, infectious spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, found in soil contaminated with bat and bird feces. Though outdoor cats are more likely to encounter this type of contaminated soil, histoplasmosis is found in both indoor and outdoor cats.
How is histoplasmosis treated in dogs?
Treatment: Itraconazole (10 mg/kg/day) is the treatment of choice for disseminated histoplasmosis in dogs and cats, although fluconazole is probably also effective. Ketoconazole, 10–15 mg/kg, bid for 4–6 mo, may be effective in early or mild cases of histoplasmosis in dogs.
Can cats survive histoplasmosis?
Your cat will require several months of medication to successfully treat this disease; in most cases, treatment will need to be continued for 4-6 months.
